Alabama, Florida State top 1st BCS standings

Oregon a close 3rd, Ohio State a distant 4th

10/20/2013

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clemson tight end Stanton Seckinger looks for a fumbled ball with Florida State linebacker Telvin Smith (22), defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (20) and defensive back Terrence Brooks (31) during the first half Saturdayin Clemson, S.C. Florida State recovered the loose ball, which is between Smith's feet.

Alabama and Florida State hold the top two spots in the first BCS standings of the season. Oregon was a close third behind second-place Florida State.

BCS standings

1. Alabama

2. Florida State

3. Oregon

4. Ohio State

5. Missouri

6. Stanford

7. Miami, Fla.

8. Baylor

9. Clemson

10. Texas Tech

11. Auburn

12. UCLA

13. LSU

14. Virginia Tech

15. Oklahoma

16. Texas A&M

17. Fresno State

18. Northern Illinois

19. Oklahoma State

20. Louisville

21. South Carolina

22. Michigan

23. Central Florida

24. Nebraska

25. Oregon State

The Seminoles (.9348 BCS average) are coming off their biggest win of the season, a 51-14 victory at previously unbeaten Clemson.

The Ducks (.9320) have only played one team that was ranked at the time, but could get a boost in the next two weeks with games against UCLA and at Stanford.

Ohio State is a more distant fourth, followed by Missouri in the standings released Sunday night.

The top two teams in the final standings after the end of the regular season play in the Rose Bowl for the national title in January.

Alabama is a comfortable No. 1 on the strength of being top-ranked by a wide margin in both the USA Today coaches’ poll and Harris poll. The two-time defending champion Crimson Tide is second in the computer ratings.

If the Tide can stay unbeaten, it should reach the BCS championship game for the third straight year and for the fourth time in five seasons.

The polls count for two-thirds of a BCS grade.

Florida State is No. 1 in the computer ratings and third in each poll. Oregon is second in the polls and fourth in the computers.

The race between the Ducks and Florida State is shaping up to be a close one if both keep winning. The Seminoles still must play unbeaten Miami, rival Florida and potentially in the ACC championship game, which could be a rematch with Miami or maybe a game against Virginia Tech (6-1).

In addition to Oregon’s next two tough games, the Ducks play Oregon State and potentially the Pac-12 title game against perhaps UCLA or Arizona State.

Ohio State is probably relegated to hoping for the teams in front of it to fall. The Big Ten is not affording the Buckeyes many opportunities for resume-boosting victories.